Several citizens lamented the living conditions provided by the Blytheville Housing Authority, Tuesday night, prior to the Blytheville City Council voting in a new member to the organization's board of commissioners.
With a 5-1 vote, the Council confirmed the appointment of Jerry L.Van Bibber to the Housing Authority board with a term ending March 17, 2015. In December, the Council tabled the appointment to allow time to meet Van Bibber, and Council members had that opportunity at last week's Code Enforcement meeting.
Councilman R.L. Jones was the lone dissenter, saying he wanted the Council to send a message to the Housing Authority that allowing residents to suffer is unacceptable.
"Mr. Van Bibber is a good man," Jones said. "I'm not voting against him because he's not. I'm voting against him because I feel like somebody needs to stand up for the residents in that housing."
Residents told the Council that Clear Lake apartments are cold, causing them to be ill, and spoke about the 2012 bedbug outbreak that plagued them, along with holes in the walls and pests crawling out of them.
"We have a chance tonight to start over with that board," Jones said. "If we do that, we will send a message that we will not allow the citizens of Blytheville to be treated in those ways."
Councilman Kevin Snow pointed out no one has questioned Van Bibber's character, and confirming the appointment and addressing issues at the Housing Authority are two separate matters.
He noted he plans to inquire what can be done next week when attending the Municipal League conference.
"I think there is a state that needs to be addressed within the Housing Authority," Snow said. "There's no doubt (there are) some problems that need to be addressed and they deserve answers. But all of the talk and discussion tonight has not been against Mr. Van Bibber. In fact, they said they like the guy. I think something needs to be addressed to the board and to the state of Arkansas about their concerns so that they can get some answers."
Jones also took issue with Housing Authority director Sue Alexander, who he calls rude and claims she told him that the Council didn't have to approve the appointment. Jones said he knew better and Mayor James Sanders confirmed that state law requires the move by the city's governing body.
Jones tried, unsuccessfully, to delay the vote once more, asking that Council members first meet with members of the Housing Authority board to discuss the concerns brought up by residents, who he believes are "crying out for help."
He added some afraid to talk about what's happening, and that shouldn't be.
Jones also believes there needs to be some young people on the board of commissioners.
"My vote of no wasn't against Mr. Van Bibber; he's a good man," Jones said. "But I think that we need to balance that board with some younger people and have people held accountable."
Resident Jessie Mitchell suggested starting over with the board, saying the apartments are cold and the seniors are suffering.
Blytheville resident Johnnie Stubbs agreed that the Council should vote all new members in because she says the current ones don't care about what is going on in Clear Lake Apartments.
"I'll admit, Mrs. (Sue) Alexander is fixing some of them up, but the ones that she is fixing up are the ones that nobody is living in, not the ones that we are living in," Stubbs said. "We are on a fixed income and our apartments are freezing cold. I have had the flu shot and I've been to the doctor with the flu three times because it is so cold in there. Our bills are high."
She noted the residents are on a fixed income and have no place to go "so they have to suffer the abuse."
"She (Alexander) told me at one time that there's nothing I can do about it and she can do what she wants to do and she told me that to my face," Stubbs added. "It feels like she's our master and we're her slaves."
Stubbs said they have to deal with rats, bugs and other pests because of holes in the walls. She said she wanted to move to a different apartment, but was told she would have to move out and reapply.
"Why should we move out and reapply," Stubbs said. "Where are we going? There's only one person that she did let move and it's sad to say she was white but the black ones, we are still staying in our apartments. To me, I feel like it's racial."
Stubbs also questioned why there are no African-Americans in the office.
"We're not even staying in a place that's fit for a human being," Stubbs said. "Somebody's got to do something. We need help over there."
Blytheville resident Lilly Lucas said the senior citizens are being ignored and, when leaders do that, they will be held accountable by God.
Judy Smith, a resident of Clear Lake Apartments, said she has seen a lack of concern, noting when her apartment caught fire not one board member called to check on her.
"When you all make your selection, make sure that the one you appoint is not over-obligated and are willing to show concern for the residents," Smith said.
Blytheville resident Tony Hollis said he has seen issues with missing baseboards and big holes in the walls.
Hollis said Alexander told him there was a hold up on the funding, delaying the needed corrections.
Hollis said he hopes that the Council will look at the overall process of appointing folks to different commissions, pointing out the boards have a lack of diversity.
"Diversity is not a dirty word; it's a word that brings beautiful things," Hollis said.
Hollis noted the tenants have been through a lot with the bedbug problems, and some have had snakes in their apartments.
Jones believes the only way things will change is if the Council votes down their board appointment requests.
Alexander plans to respond to comments made at Tuesday night's meeting.
mbrasfield@blythevillecourier.com